10 Amazing Facts About Bamboo

From Eco friendly pens to bikes to iPad sleeves, bamboo has become the sought after renewable material to use on everyday items. The bamboo material’s strength, natural beauty and regenerative properties are just some of the reasons for its popularity.

Bamboo has a lot of qualities that make it a great material for eco-promotional items. We have compiled a list of 10 amazing bamboo facts, including the reasons why we love the material.

It’s the Fastest Growing Plant on this Planet

Bamboo is actually a grass and not a tree. Therefore it grows rapidly and can produce fully mature bamboo plants in 3-5 years.

It’s Critical for the Atmosphere

Bamboo produces 30% more oxygen than trees and it plays a critical role in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Bamboo does not need to be replanted, is self-generating and can be harvested every three to five years.

It Can Be a Great Wood Replacement

Bamboo is flexible and lightweight and stronger than steel and most hardwoods. Bamboo is also more affordable than wood as it is easy to grow and one of the cheapest construction materials around. It can be used as a construction substitute for any sort of wood. You’ll see bamboo turned into skateboards, bicycles and bike helmets because of its light weight and durability. The many uses of bamboo make it perfect for fencing, flooring, building posts and house walls.

It’s A Natural & Lasting Controllable Barrier

Bamboo reduces rain run-off and is proving to be a very valuable weapon in the prevention of soil erosion in many parts of the world because of its extensive root system and large canopy. Bamboo has the capability of regeneration with out a need for replanting. Bamboo works on greatly reducing rain run-off and preventing soil erosion, to helping control water pollution because of it’s high nitrogen contents.

It Has a Versatile & Fast Growth Cycle

Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly plants due to its versatile short growing cycle (it is harvested every three to five years as opposed to the 20 to 50 years of its wood counterparts), and its yield per year is about 20 times higher, sometimes more than timber.

It Has Proven to be an Essential material For Earthquake Architecture

Strong, flexible and lightweight, Bamboo is essential in earthquake architecture. In Limon, Costa Rica, only the bamboo houses from the National Bamboo Project stood after their violent earthquake in 1992. Bamboo can tolerate high values of deformations in the elastic range. Bamboo houses, when properly constructed can sway back and forth during an earthquake, without any damage to the bamboo.

It is a Renewable Resource for Agroforestry Production

The advantage of bamboo over trees is the short time from planting to harvest. Bamboo’s ability to sustainably provide building materials and edible products for many years or even decades, and versatility of use which outmatches most tree species. For its ecological adaptability, and wide range of uses, bamboo can be an essential component of many agroforestry systems.

It is an Ancient Medicine

Bamboo as an ancient herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years in Asia. Often used for its tonic and astringent properties, it is also considered an aphrodisiac. Ancient remedies that involve bamboo are still used in many health and body care products today.

It Plays a Role in the Culture and the Arts

Bamboo is deeply rooted in the daily life of many cultures. Bamboo culture always plays a positive role in encouraging people to hold on when facing tough situations.

It’s a Critical Element of the Economy

Bamboo grows best in tropical zones which just happen to be many developing countries around the world. Bamboo crops provides provide jobs that support the people’s livelihood. As popularity of bamboo grows, these countries are enjoying access to a wider market. The continued use of bamboo helps developing economies.